HPL Receives Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation Grant

To Support Women Writers Of Color

Our Narratives, Our Power

We're pleased to be partnering with Hartford’s L.I.T. (Literary Integrated Trailblazers), an organization of local authors, artists and entrepreneurs that seeks to strengthen the voices of women and teen girls from all backgrounds and advocate for and offer emotional equity access to Black, Indigenous women of color.

Together we will create workshops and other programming as part of a new project to support Hartford-area women of color in writing and publishing their own narratives.

Learn more about this valuable program for our community HERE.

Giving thanks for good literature

Lessons in Chemistry

Bonnie Garmus

Barnes & Noble No. 1 Book of 2022

Smart, witty novel about an extraordinary woman defying gender roles in the 1950s. You'll be hooked from the beginning.



"Strikingly relevant. ... Darkly funny and poignant ... quirky and heartwarming." — The Atlantic

"A bold, smart and often hilarious look at the value of so-called women's work." — Real Simple

Fiona & Jane

Jean Chen Ho

TIME’s 100 Must-Read Books of 2022

A captivating novel about the lives of two Taiwanese American women and their friendship over 20 years.

"It's Ho's wisdom and compassion for her characters that make us yearn to stay in her world after we've reached the last page." — Oprah Daily

"[This book] captures the textures of female friendship and all the intensity, loyalty and occasional torment of it.” — NPR

Something special is coming to the ArtWalk gallery!

Artist Barbara Hocker hanging her new exhibit at our ArtWalk gallery.

Save the date for the opening!

Ebb & Flow

Barbara Hocker

Opening Friday, December 2nd, 5:30-7:30 pm

ArtWalk Gallery, 3rd Floor, Downtown Library

Don't miss Beyond Words

12-8-22

Join Joe Gianni, Beyond Words master of ceremonies and president, Bank of America Greater Hartford, and HPL President and CEO Bridget E. Quinn for a special evening celebrating the library’s diverse and transformative programs and services for our community with a special focus on how Hartford Public Library fosters creativity.

Get your tickets HERE.

School choice assistance available

Family paint nights

Join us for family paint fun and to learn about your School Choice options. Information and application assistance available for the 2023-2024 school year!

Tuesday, December 6th, 4 pm

Downtown Library, Youth Program Room, third floor

500 Main St.

Tuesday, December 13th, 4 pm

Camp Field Library

30 Campfield Ave.

Questions? Contact the library's School Choice Office at 860-695-6350.

We're looking for a few good recipes

Albany Library Community Cookbook

Inspired by the history of cookbooks as a tool for community reciprocity and skill sharing, our Albany Library Community Cookbook brings together cherished recipes, memories, traditions — and the family legacies we carry with them. Stop by the Albany Library (1250 Albany Ave.) and share your recipe today!

...and dance by the light of the moon

It's A Wonderful Life: A Radio Play

Hartford Stage

November 25th-December 24th

Free tickets to this holiday classic are available now for HPL cardholders while they last. You can pick up passes at your favorite branch or reserve them online HERE.

It's Friendsgiving!

The Dwight Library is inviting all Parkville community members, to come share a warm meal with the Dwight staff. We look forward to seeing you.

Wednesday, November 23rd

1-3 p.m.

Dwight Library

7 New Park Ave.

HPL closed Thursday for Thanksgiving

In observance of Thanksgiving, all HPL locations will close at 5 pm on Wednesday, November 23rd, and reopen for service on Friday, November 26th. Enjoy your turkey!

P.S. Speaking of turkey, looking for some last-minute recipe ideas? Check out this book with this recipe for some delicious turkey stock. Trust us on this one.

📷: Miss Connecticut, Elisa Heinimann of Wethersfield, poses with a turkey in this 1974 photograph. (Hartford History Center, Hartford Times Collection)

“Whenever you feel afraid, just remember. Courage is the root of change — and change is what we're chemically designed to do. So when you wake up tomorrow, make this pledge. No more holding yourself back. No more subscribing to others' opinions of what you can and cannot achieve. And no more allowing anyone to pigeonhole you into useless categories of sex, race, economic status and religion. Do not allow your talents to lie dormant, ladies. Design your own future. When you go home today, ask yourself what YOU will change. And then get started.” ― Bonnie Garmus, Lessons in Chemistry